SIAC an innovation leader

How you see it

In two recent editions of the SportsBusiness Journal, two articles have appeared chronicling the Big Ten’s and Pac-12 efforts to “centralize digital rights.” The front page article discussing Pac-12 Enterprises not only stated that “The [Pac-12] conference plans to gain control of its school websites once their deals with CBSSports.com and NeuLion expire over the next two years,” but Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott is quoted as stating, “We want to roll up all of our schools’ websites into the first-ever college conference portal. That’s a big undertaking.”

With all due respect to Commissioner Scott, please know that our Council of Presidents at the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference voted to approve the first-ever NCAA conference-wide Web platform modeled after MLB Advanced Media nearly two years ago.

In view of this fact, and in the interest of journalistic accuracy and integrity, I believe it is critically important that your publication correct the record and recognize the SIAC, which also became the first NCAA Division II Conference to launch an Android application as well.

Although the major conferences seemingly have a monopoly with respect to SBJ’s coverage of college sports, it is clear that these conferences have not monopolized technological innovation and new ideas. However, this perception will be allowed to persist unless and until the SBJ accords credit where credit is due when a smaller conference such as the SIAC beats the bigger conferences to market with a new and innovative initiative.

Greg MooreAtlanta

Moore is commissioner of the SIAC (thesiac.com), which comprises 13 historically black colleges and universities.